Connect with us

Hockey

Madison Packer Intends to Return to Riveters for Fourth Season

 

Photo Credit: Michael Hetzel

With free agency ready to face off on June 1, the Metropolitan Riveters forward, Madison Packer announced that she intends to return to Newark to defend the Isobel Cup in 2018-2019.

Last year at this time the 27-year-old forward was contemplating hanging up the skates but had a change of heart as the season approached. It turned out to be a good decision for her as she led the league in goals and helped the Riveters capture the Isobel Cup this past March.

One of the finalists for the National Women’s Hockey League’s Most Valuable Player, told the league over the weekend that she does indeed wish to return to the ice and the only team she has laced them up for in her four-year career in the NWHL.

Packer said, “I would like to return to the league and play for the Riveters, I have enjoyed my time and teammates in New Jersey and hope that a good chunk of that group returns as well. Health-wise I feel great. I had surgery a year ago and came out of it feeling the best I had in a while. The surgery made an immediate difference for me, which was also a factor in my decision to come back last September.”

Winning Isobel Cup and Growth of League Helped Fuel Return to Ice

She also noted that winning the Isobel Cup, paired off with the Riveters reaching strategic alliance with the New Jersey Devils and how the league and game has progressed also helped make her decision to keep skating and continuing her hockey career.

She added, “Women’s hockey is growing rapidly and the NWHL and NWHLPA have done a great job taking care of the players and getting us in front of the right crowds and right markets. Dani Rylan and Hayley Moore did a great job last season. It was truly my most enjoyable year in the league.”

Packer continued, “As the league grows and time goes on, they learn a little more and are making a lot of good moves for the future of the league and the sport.”

The Detroit, Michigan native helped the University of Wisconsin win a national championship in 2011. Packer is on of 19 players in Badgers history to put up 100 points. During her senior season, she was named to the All-Western Collegiate Hockey Association All Academic Team.

In 146 games at Wisconsin, the 2008 and 2009 International Ice Hockey Federation U-18 gold medalist, scored 46 goals and 58 assists. She also played for the U19 Little Caesars hockey team early in her career.

In three seasons in the NWHL, the Riveters forward has scored 21 goals and 17 assists in 45 games. Packer gets her time with the Isobel Cup July 2 through July 5 and plans to bring it home to celebrate with her family. She added her brother’s birthday is on the Fourth of July, so they will probably party with the Cup at their lake house in Charlevoix, Michigan.

Packer Hopes Detroit in NWHL Future Plans

Packer added that she hopes the next wave of expansion for the NWHL reaches Detroit and said, “It would be great to have a team in Detroit. There are great hockey fans in and around Detroit. It could be a good opportunity to explore at some point.”

The following two tabs change content below.
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

More in Hockey